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Brief Synopsis

A mysterious inventor passes off an animated doll as his daughter.

In the 19th century, Dr. Coppelius creates a beautiful, lifelike mechanical doll that he lovingly names Coppelia. Seeing the doll on a balcony of the doctor's house, a flirtatious village youth, Franz, becomes so enamored of it that he neglects his sweetheart, Swanhilda. Later, the jealous Swanhilda and six of her friends sneak into Coppelius' home and discover Coppelia among several other mechanical dolls. Although her friends are frightened away when Coppelius returns, Swanhilda finds a hiding place and disguises herself as the doll while the doctor is sleeping. When he is awakened by the sudden appearance of Franz, Coppelius drugs the youth and attempts to transfer his spirit of life to Coppelia. Dressed as the doll, Swanhilda dances about and deludes the doctor into believing that he has made the doll come to life. When Franz is roused from his deep sleep, however, Swanhilda reveals her true identity and runs off with her beloved, leaving behind a broken Coppelia and a disillusioned Dr. Coppelius. On the wedding day of Swanhilda and Franz, the townspeople present the doctor with a completely restored Coppelia. Forsaking his life of fantasy, Coppelius returns the love of Brigitta, the tavern maid, who has always yearned to be his wife.